Eating Paris: Le Comptoir

Le Comptoir (9 Carrefour de l Odeon) is a Paris classic. Loved by the late Anthony Bourdain, this unassuming bistro will blow your mind. They don’t take reservations, but this place is absolutely worth the wait.

Located in the bustling left bank of Paris in the Saint Germain neighborhood, Le Comptoir serves a combination of classic and contemporary French dishes. The menu is broken down into small plates, or starters, salads, charcuterie, and main entrees.

We ordered the escargot, which was buttery, herby and garlicky, the foie gras toast that came drizzled with a sweet marmalade and a fresh green salad that came with freshly poached veggies (including radishes, green beans, potatoes and more). For my entree, I ordered a French classic; salade Nicoise. The tuna was definitely poached in oil and not from a can and the veggies were fresh and crisp.

This is not your ordinary French cafe. Everything is flavored perfectly and delicious. As luck would have it, we sat next to the chef and a group of his friends and he was also amazing. I can tell why Anthony Bourdain loved it so much!